Ever is a long time. Here's what I've got out of the Lehigh Valley since state playoffs started (1988)
Juan Gaddy, Easton RB (1989-1992)
Third 5,000 yard rusher in Pennsylvania history. Fastest 0-60 player I've seen (state finalist in the 100 as a freshman and sophomore before he stopped running track). Was probably miscast as a scatback playing in a between the tackles offense, but was one-cut and gone. Committed to Florida State, but was a Prop 48 non-qualifier (meaning he had to sit his freshman year and not even practice, but it cost him a year of eligibility). Temple was happy to take a player of his talent - tore his ACL in his first camp, which in 1993 was pretty much a career ender.
Nate Hobgood-Chittek, William Allen DT (1990-1992)
Defensive tackle/tight end combo due to his incredible athleticism at his size. Was a game-wrecker at defensive end, but it was watching him as Allen's top passing target at 260 pounds that was really the impressive part. Went to UNC where he was a four year starter at DT. Played in the NFL from 1998-2002 and won a Super Bowl with the '99 Rams.
Dan Kendra III, Bethlehem Catholic QB (1991-1994)
The #1 recruit in the country. The first name I thought of in this exercise. Incredibly ahead of his time as a dynamite run/pass threat at 6'3 245. The best arm I've seen on a high school quarterback, and obvioulsy had a size/speed combination that was otherwordly (as a freshman at Florida State, he had the best vertical - 41.5 inches - on a team that put 30 guys in the NFL. He also only got out-benched by their All American left tackle, Tra Thomas, and ran a 4.6). Flipped from Penn State to Florida State (which in the mid-90s was like going to Alabama today), where he was the ACC Rookie of the Year sitting behind the ACC Player of the Year, but dazzling in garbage time. Then - this happened in the spring game before he was slated to take over the QB job (from a great SB Nation article a couple years back titled "The Legend of Dan Kendra")
Ten former FSU quarterbacks showed up at the Garnet & Gold game to watch Dan Kendra’s official ascension to the throne they’d once held. He did not disappoint. At halftime, as the QB emeriti—Charlie Ward, Danny Kanell, Brad Johnson, Peter Tom Willis, et al—sat at long tables and dutifully signed autographs, the fans asked more question about the kid’s bright future than they did their heroes’ gilded past. Seldom was heard a discouraging word.
In hindsight, the second half might have been a splendid time for the coaches to lift their starting QB and take a look at some of the kids.
Instead, about halfway through the third quarter, they got a chance to see their stout defense flush Kendra from the pocket. They got a chance to see Kendra sprint toward the sideline—the last few strides he’d ever make at full speed—and they got to see him make a good decision to throw the ball away. As he did, they got a chance to see linebacker Bradley Jennings hit him, low and hard. Those closest got to hear a pop. They got a chance to see their chiseled, seemingly invincible young QB collapse in a heap. They got a chance to see him get wheeled out of Doak Campbell Stadium on a golf cart, giving thousands of Seminole fans a thumbs-up.
After the game, when the team doctor diagnosed the injury as a severe sprain, they got to breathe a little easier. It was, in fact, what Bobby Bowden had expected to hear. Even when Kendra was writhing on the ground, Bowden was thinking, There’s no way this kid’s hurt bad. He’s too dag-gone strong.
The next day, an MRI showed a complete tear of Kendra’s ACL. He’d be out for at least a year. The knee would have to be rebuilt and would, realistically, never be the same.
And so it was that the Legend of Dan Kendra came to its classically tragic end.
James Mungro, East Stroudsburg (1992-1995)
The first 3,000 yard rusher in PA history and set the single season and career rushing record in Pennsylvania. Another little-ish running back in rough-and-tumble 1990s football, but Mungro was the Emmitt Smith type - every crease and crack he seemed to fit through and could make 3 yards into 10 as well as anybody I've seen. Went to Syracuse, where he finished in the top 5 in Orange history in rushing yards. Was the Colts third-down back from 2002-2006 and won a Super Bowl ring in his final season.
Dan Koppen, Whitehall OT (1995-1998)
The best Lehigh Valley offensive lineman in the modern era, who even scored ten touchdowns as a senior in the "Fatso" package that put the 290 pounder in the backfield as a fullback. Was the unquestioned leader and star at Whitehall despite being an offensive tackle. Went to Boston College, where he was a Rimington Finalist as the nation's best center and a third team All American. Won four Super Bowls with the Patriots and Broncos and is the Patriots Ring of Honor.
Tim Massaquoi, Parkland WR (1998-2000)
Ahead of his time as a 6'5 230 wide receiver with elite athleticism. Had 50 catches in a season where Parkland only attempted 109 passes. Looked like he was playing a different sport than everybody else - the most imposing skill guy I remember. Also a ferocious basketball player. Parade All American who choose Michigan over Penn State. Two-time All Big Ten tight end for the Wolverines, then played for the Buccaneers, Dolphins, and Bills in the NFL.
Austin Scott, Parkland RB (2000-2002)
I've written enough about him, but it's Kendra and Scott as the two best. Set the Pennsylvania single season TDs and rushing yards record with an astonishing 3,856 yards and 53 TDs playing 4A football. Also set the PA sophomore record with 1,918 yards as a 10th grader. Missed his junior season. The most fun high school player to watch I've ever seen. Well documented up-and-down career at Penn State.
Dan Persa, Liberty QB (2003-2006)
The first 2,000/1,000 season in Pennsylvania history from the first truly "modern" spread quarterback in the Lehigh Valley. Complete package in terms of accuracy and escapability, led the Hurricanes to back-to-back state finals. Just terrifying to go against as a fan of another team who was his biggest competitor. Went to Northwestern where he was All Big Ten and set the NCAA record for completion percentage. Tore his Achilles as a senior, ending any chance of him playing at the next level.
Jarred Holley, Easton DB (2004-2008)
Finished his career with 24 interceptions (a school record 9 in 2006 before teams just stopped throwing to his side of the field at all) and played WR/RB/QB on offense. Three time All State pick and the only four time all EPC honoree. Just an incredibly smooth player, fabulous ball skills for a defensive back, and the best open field tackler our program has produced in my memory. Also a draftable baseball player, but made it clear to scouts that he was going to college to play football. Four star recruit who passed up playing for Urban Meyer at Florida to play at Pitt, where he was a multi-year captain and a three-time All ACC safety in the LeSean McCoy/Aaron Donald era at Pitt.
Anthony Gonzalez, Liberty QB/FS (2007-2009)
The best two-way player on the list. Elite running threat at quarterback with a big arm to take the Persa spread to the next level. Also an elite safety, highlighted by his game winning interception in overtime of the 2008 state final. Bounced around positions at Pitt (QB/TE/SS) before becoming an All ACC linebacker.
Brendan Nosovitch, Allentown Central Catholic QB (2009-2011)
Comical numbers in his three years as a starter (9,428 yards passing/3,628 rushing yards, 106 TD passes/63 TD rushes) as a dual-threat QB who led one of the great PIAA offenses on their way to the 2010 state 3A championship. Performance against Wood in the 2010 PIAA semifinals is the best I've ever seen a high school quarterback play. Never could win the QB job at South Carolina, then transferred to Boston College to play tight end.
Shane Simpson, Easton RB (2011-2014)
Insanely shifty with a second gear that could put most teams in the dust. Played wideout as a 130 pound freshman before taking over at tailback, and rushed for 294 yards in his first game at tailback. Battles injuries as a sophomore and junior, but in a fully healthy senior season ran for 2,124 yards and 41 touchdowns, which led the state and earned him Player of the Year honors over the next guy on the list. Undersized and health concerns pushed him down to FCS, where he was a two-time All American at Towson before using his final season of eligibility in the ACC at Virginia.
Saquon Barkley, Whitehall RB (2011-2014)
This is cheating, because I remember thinking Barkley was good (I argued on here that I'd take him over any back in the state if I was drafting for the next level and got some flack as a Lehigh Valley homer) but I also said I thought he wouldn't be a real impact guy in the Big Ten until he was a junior or senior. Oops. But Saquon as a high school player was a late bloomer (he didn't play varsity until he was a junior) who had such good moves in the open field for a big back - my Saquon memories are him pulling out the best spin move I've seen out of a HS running back. He and Simpson actually had remarkably similar styles, but Barkley was four inches taller and 35 pounds heavier.
DeVante Cross, Parkland QB (2013-2015)
I thought Cross was fun as hell to watch play quarterback. He had a bigger arm that the best of the 2000s around here (Persa/Gonzalez/Nosovitch) and threw a great deep ball in addition to the gliding he did when he scrambled. It is a shame he tore his MCL against LaSalle in their state playoff run and the rest of PA didn't get to see him at full strength in the state final against PCC. Crazy winner who quarterbacked Parkland to three straight D11 championships and a state final, plus was the point guard on four straight D11 championship basketball teams. Played safety at Virginia and was just recently released by the Green Bay Packers.
Jahan Dotson, Nazareth WR (2014-2017)
While I was too low on Barkley, I was right on with Dotson, who as a freshman I called the "five star receiver starter kit." While he was only a four star when he came out of Nazareth, I'll take the 16th pick in the NFL draft as back-up of my scouting. He's the best young player I've seen - he came in uncoverable as a freshman, not because he was blazing fast yet, but he changed directions so crisply and had the best hands I've ever seen on a HS receiver. Throw on top of that his explosiveness as he grew (as a sophomore, he won the PIAA title in the long jump by almost two feet), the added straight line speed (state finalist in the 100 and 200, ran a 4.4 at the NFL Combine) and he was the best receiver on this list. Played at Penn State, where he's 2nd all time in catches and 4th in receiving yards, and was a first round pick last April.
